All he brought to Indy was a helmet, a solid resume, an amazing resolve and some undeniable talent. That still almost wasn't enough to get Bruno Junqueira into the field.
Just a week ago, the only ride Bruno Junqueira had at Indy was on the pit lane wall. By the end of Sunday, the plucky veteran make the field safely in a bare minimum of laps. Why doesn't he have a full-time ride? (LAT)
All he brought to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a helmet, a solid resume, an amazing resolve and some undeniable talent. That still almost wasn't enough to get Bruno Junqueira into the 93rd Indianapolis 500.
But, thanks to owner Eric Bachelart and sponsor All Sports, Junqueira got a last-minute opportunity and made the most of it with one of the more impressive performances in recent memory.
In a car that was a bare tub on Friday evening and didn't roll onto the track until 10 minutes remained in Sunday morning's practice period, Junky showed how a professional race responds under pressure.
The 2002 Indy polesitter, who hadn't been in a car all season, ran 220 mph on his FIFTH flying lap and, in less than 15 total hot laps, stuck Bachelart's second car in the show at 221.115 mph.
"I know my way around this place, I know how to go fast and Eric's team gave me a good car," was his explanation. "I didn't know what to expect with the car but I could tell on my fourth or fifth lap it was a good one.
"I think I broke the record for the least number of practice laps to put a car in the field."
To chart Bruno's career the past three years is to appreciate his spirit and feel good for his latest accomplishment.
After winning and finishing second in the CART championship three times for Chip Ganassi and then Newman/Haas from 2001-2006, the 32-year-old Brazilian found himself looking for work in 2007.
In what turned out to be Champ Car's final season, he wound up driving for Dale Coyne and driving very well -- nearly winning Belgium and Holland. Oh yeah, he also drove for free that year. When Coyne joined IndyCar a year ago, Bruno stuck with him and again got no retainer or paycheck to speak of.
The Miami resident has been pounding the pavement all season looking for a drive and, until Friday night, had no takers despite his experience.
"I'm here because I love racing and I think I'm still one of the best drivers here," said Junqueira, who lost out on a full-time ride in Formula One with Williams because the sponsor at that time wanted an Englishman (Jenson Button).
"I thought I would be driving again for Dale and then I found out I don't have a job right before the season started so it's been a difficult year. My wife is expecting our first child in late July so I need to make some money."
Junky, who said he'd get paid by Bachelart if he finishes the race next Sunday, is trying to make ends meet on his past paydays. "I got paid good money by Chip (Ganassi) and Carl (Haas) and I've still got some of that money," he said.
"I stay in cheap hotels and drive compact cars and it's expensive paying your own way to the races."
But the guy who still has a 9-inch titanium rod and 14 screws in his back from his 2005 accident here gave himself the best possible reward Sunday.
"What makes me happy are things that happen like today. Qualifying under difficult circumstances, that proves to myself this is still the one thing I can do well -- driving a race car."
THE LAST HURRAH
John Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay provided all the drama necessary to make great television and good stories as time ran out on qualifying.
After Andretti just missed making the show at 5:40 p.m., he went back out in the Window World Special with eight minutes to go and bumped Hunter-Reay on his third and final attempt.
Then, with four minutes to go, Hunter-Reay roared out of the pits and into the show -- bumping Alex Tagliani by an eyelash.
"I've never been through a day like this, it's just so stressful," said Hunter-Reay after posting a 220.597 mph average to Tag's 220.553 in the IZOD Dallara/Honda. "I knew our first two laps were in the high 220s and the last two in the low 220s and I knew it was close.
"I was in a controlled slide every lap and it wasn't nice but we made it."
Andretti, whose former NASCAR boss Richard Petty is a partner in this month's venture with Dennis Reinbold, credited his team more than himself.
"The car has got to do what it's supposed to do and all I do is hold down the throttle so I gave lots of credit to Larry Curry and my guys for giving me the speed to make it," said the 43-year-old veteran who will be starting his 10th Indy 500 on May 24.
"I'd never been through this kind of last-second stuff here and it's not particularly fun."
NOTES & QUOTES
The starting lineup's time difference from pole to 33rd slot is the closest in the 93-year history of Indianapolis: pole-sitter Helio Castroneves covered 10 miles in 2:40.0967 while Hunter-Reay's time is 2:43.1934. It's the sixth closest speed from front to back in IMS history......Tagiliani was devastated after being bumped and sitting in line when the gun went off. "We'd run 221.8 around 5 o'clock to protect our position but then we got bumped and had no time to go back out. Right now I'm wondering why we didn't go back out and protect our time and it's very difficult to accept the fact that we're going home."
